Scissors or shears



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. BESTGEN, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SCISSORS OR SHEARS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 570,658, dated November 3, 1896.

' Application filed May 22,1896. Serial No. 592,514. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN G. BESTGEN, of Somerville, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Scissors or Shears, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to scissors, shears, and the like; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction and application of a pivot-screw, whereby the pressure between the blades may be easily regulated.

My invention may be readily applied to old blades with slight alterations thereof, and does away with rivets or similar pivots.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pair of scissors or shears embodying my invention with the blades closed. Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section thereof on the line w m, Fig. 1, and on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the pivot-screw; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, also enlarged, of the pivot-screw, with a spreading device therefor, to be described.

The blades a and Z), of usual construction and provided with handles a b, respectively,

have suitable openings for the pivot-screw,

the opening in one of the blades, as a, being threaded, while the opening of the other blade, b, is left smooth and is countersunk to form an annular shoulder b Fig. 2.

The pivot-screw is shown as comprising a threaded shank c and a head or annular enlargement c and an upturned loop-like spring portion or bow 0 the shank and annular enlargement 0' being longitudinally slotted, as at 0 the said slot extending from the extremity of the threaded shank into the opening of the bow, the latter connecting the parts of the shank.

By means of the slot and bow the two parts of the shank and head are normally held separated a slight distance, the bow acting as a spring for the purpose of resisting compression of the shank.

The shank c is screwed into the threadedopening'of the blade a, as in Fig. 2, said'opening being of such diameter as to compress the parts of the shank, and by reason of the spring action the shank is held rigidly therein, so that the pivot and blade turn as one piece,while the circular enlargement or head 0 enters loosely the countersunk portion of the opening in blade I) and rests upon the shoulder b forming a bearing for the blade. The blades are thus held in juxtaposition, the blade I) turning upon the head 0' as a pivot more or less freely, according to the desired pressure between the blades, which is effected by turning the threaded shank 0 into the blade a, the spring-bow 0 serving as a finger-piece for the purpose.

It will be obvious that the adjustment may be effected instantaneously and that wear of the blades may be taken up from time to time.

In order to increase the spring action of the pivot, a wedge or spreader d, of steel or other suitable material, is driven into the upper end of the slot 0 as shown in Fig. 4:, thus spreading apart the two portions of the shank.

To reduce friction and impart easy movement to the blades, I make a recess a in one of the blades a, at the rear of the pivotal point of the blades, to receive loosely therein a ball or roll 6', having a diameter somewhat greater than the depth of the recess. The inner face of the other blade retains the roll or ball in place, which rolls upon the blades when they are turned about the pivot.

My invention may be applied to various devices wherein one member is adapted to swing relatively to and adjacent another, as will be obvious, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Scissors or shears comprising the blade (0 provided with a threaded opening, and the blade 17 provided with a smooth opening, combined with a pivot-screw for said blades consisting of a threaded shank adapted to en .gage the threaded opening, and an enlarged head adapted loosely to engage said smooth opening, the said shank and head being slotted and normally separated longitudinally throughout their entire length, and a spring In testimony whereof I have signed my bow or loop connecting the separated parts name to thisspecifieation in the presence of of the shank and head, and a wedge or two subscribing witnesses? spreader adapted to be inserted in the slotted JOHN G. BESTGEN. head whereby the slotted shank is expanded \Vitnesses:

in the threaded opening, substantially as and JOHN G. EDWARDS,

for the purpose described. AUGUSTA E. DEAN. 

